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[/profileleft]No one should drive while distracted. No one can reasonably claim that they do not understand this message. Despite the fact that advocacy groups have spent countless hours and dollars attempting to raise awareness with regards to distracted driving, too many people still engage in this conduct. Many states even have laws against distracted driving. Many of these laws specifically deal with the use of cell phones while behind the wheel. However, according to the federal government, at any given time during the day approximately 660,000 drivers are manipulating their cell phones while behind the wheel. This needs to change and change quickly, as people are going to continue to be injured and killed if too many people are not paying attention to the road. The last thing any driver needs is more distraction.
That’s why some states have laws that prevent inexperienced drivers from driving with anyone other than a guardian in the vehicle. As it turns out, it may actually be a benefit when people are in a vehicle with a driver. That’s the conclusion drawn by a study that was done by AT&T recently. According to that study, distracted driving becomes less prevalent when a driver is accompanied by someone else. Those interested in reading or watching a news story covering the study can find it here. The study found the following:
- 64 percent of drivers are willing to check their cell phones while driving alone.
- Only 36 percent of drivers will look at their phones with someone else in the vehicle.
- That number drops to 30 percent when that passenger is a child.
The study is part of AT&T’s “It Can Wait” campaign, which is designed to continue to raise awareness with regards to the dangers of distracted driving.
Distracted Driving Statistics
According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, over 420,000 people are injured in crashes involving distracted drivers every year. 3,000 people die every year as well. In addition:
- Cell phone use leads to more than 1.5 million car accidents in the United States every year.
- Approximately 25 percent of all United States car crashes involve texting and driving on some level.
- Social media accounts for a large percentage of distracted driving related to the use of cell phones.
The problem of distracted driving is still extremely serious and prevalent despite all of the efforts to bring about awareness of this dangerous decision.
Distracted Driving Prevention
A motorist can prevent distraction by way of a cell phone if he or she takes a few simple steps. A few of these steps include:
- Do not place your phone within your reach when driving.
- Do not answer texts even if you are expecting an important message.
- If you must answer a text message, pull over to a safe location before doing so.
- Do not engage in telephone conversations if you do not have a hands-free device.
How a San Diego Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help
We support the “It Can Wait” campaign. We hope that it leads to a drastic downturn in the number of car accidents caused by distracted drivers. Unfortunately, no campaign will completely eliminate this dangerous decision. If you are harmed by a distracted driver, contact a San Diego personal injury lawyer at Gomez Trial Attorneys for a free case evaluation.
